A RECORD number of bus and lorry drivers were banned last year because they were a danger on Britain’s roads.

Excessive boozing or illegal drug-taking led to hundreds of truckers and coach drivers losing their licence while others were taken off the road because of heart and blood pressure problems or psychiatric worries.

A total of 4,706 drivers had their licence removed – a 40 per cent rise in one year.

They all failed a DVLA medical for drivers of larger vehicles, who have a Group 2 licence, and are aged over 45

A total of 261 were classified as abusing alcohol and 159 were found to have misused drugs.

More than 600 banned drivers had high blood pressure, 173 had angina and 227 had suffered a heart attack.

Worryingly, 707 drivers had sight problems, 10 suffered double vision and 31 could only see out of one eye.

Other illnesses leading to the loss of licences included schizophrenia (16), sleep apnoea where the patient can never get a proper sleep (54), depression (114), deafness (three), epilepsy (95) and brain tumours (20).

Britain’s roads are among some of the safest in the world and licensing rules have an important role in maintaining this

Road safety minister Stephen Hammond

The medicals are carried out every five years until 65, then annually. Drivers complete a questionnaire and are assessed by a doctor before the DVLA lets them stay at the wheel.

The dangers of out-of-control truckers were highlighted this year when a drunken Hungarian drove his lorry the wrong way down the M6 for 10 miles and was stopped only when fellow truckers formed a roadblock.

Pal Korbely, who had been drinking home-made plum brandy, was jailed for eight months after admitting dangerous driving under the influence of alcohol.

Road safety minister Stephen Hammond said: “Britain’s roads are among some of the safest in the world and licensing rules have an important role in maintaining this.”